How are trees damaged during landscaping and construction?
Physical injury to the trunk and crown – Construction equipment can injure the aboveground portion of a tree by breaking branches, tearing the bark and wounding the trunk. These injuries are permanent, and if extensive, can be fatal to the tree. Cutting of roots – The digging and trenching that are necessary to construct a house and install underground utilities will likely sever a portion of the roots of many trees in the area. It is easy to appreciate the potential for damage if you understand where roots grow. the roots of a mature tree extend far from the trunk of the tree. In fact, roots typically will be found growing a distance of 1-3 times the height of the tree. The amount of damage a tree can suffer from root loss depends, in part, upon how close to the tree is cut is made. Severing one major root can cause the loss of 5-20 percent of the root system. Another problem that may result from root loss due to digging and trenching is that the potential for the trees to fall over i
